Grain-binder



(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 1.. C. MILLER.

GRAIN BINDER. No. 340,342. tamed Aplmz@L 1886.

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. ATTORNEYQS.

5gg/V, A'ZVMQMJM (No Model.) Y 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. MILLER.

GRAIN BINDER.

No. 340,342. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

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(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

C. MILLER.

Y GRAIN BINDER.

No. 340.342. y Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

WITNESSBS: I R.

2%' W f ATTORNEY N. paens. Phumnhngmphef. wmngmn. D, c

(No Model.)

G'Sheets--Sheet 4. C. MILLER. l

GRAIN BINDER.

No. 340,342. Patented Apr. 2Qq 1885.

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(No Model.) 6 sheets-sheet 5.'

C. MILLER.

GRAIN BINDER. No. 340,342. P ten@ Ap WITNESSESE IVENTOR.\ l I 6 Sheets-Sheet 6. C. MILLER.

GRAIN BINDER.

(No Model.)

No. 340,342. Patented Apr. 20, 1886.

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-Nrrnn' STATES AihLtTnNT OFFICE.

CHARLES MILLER, OF AUBURN, NEV YORK.A

GRAIN-BINDER.

:LPECIFECATIN forming part of Letters Patent No. 340,342, dated April 20, l82i6.

Application filed April l. 1985. Serial No. 160,88?. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CuARLns MILLER, a citizen ofthe United States, anda resident of Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain Binders; andv I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, which will enable others skill in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specitication, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved grainbinder, and as much of the harvester to which it is attached as is necessary to illustrate its arrangement and operation. Fig. 2 is a top View oi' the same. Fig. 3 is a bottom view. Fig. 4 is aside elevation. Fig. 5 is a rear elevation. Fig. G is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken on the line a: m in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse secA4 tional view taken on the liner/y in Fig. 2, and Fig. Sis a perspective view oi` part of one of the sliding grain-carriers with part oi' the tripping mechanism.

In several ofthe iigures parts have been broken away for the purpose ot' illusl'irating the construction more clearly; and corresponding parts in all ofthe iigures lare denoted by the same letters of reference.

This invention relates to that class of grainbinders which is known as low-down 7 binders, and iu which the grain-binding mechanism is about on a level witlrthe reaper-table, in order to avoid the lifting ofthe grain above the level oi' the said table; and it has for its object to produce a grain-binder of this class which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general efiiciency.

Vith these ends in view the invention consists in the improved consti-notion, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, A designates the reaper-table, to the underside of which, near the front edge, is bolted or other-V wise secured a beam, B, extending laterally from the edge of the same.

C is the binder platform, which is secured, in any suitable manner to the edge oi' the 1'eaper-table-and to the beam B, which latter supports the front edge or" the said binder-` plati'orm.

D is a metallic bracket, secured to the upper side oi' the beam B, and E is the tongue, which is tirmly bolted to the upper side oi' the front end of said bracket. Secured upon the front end of the tongue -is a weight, F, serving to balance the weight of the binder, thereby promoting lightness of draft. The outer side oi' the tongue is con nected with the outer fend of the beam B by means of a stout iron brace, G.

H designates the drive-wheel, the axle of which, I, is mounted in the bracket D and brace G, which together serve to keep the drive-wheel. at a proper distance from the front edge oi` the beam B. v

Secured to the sides ofthe bimier-platform. at the rear end oi' the latter, are a pair of brackets or frames, .I J, of suitable construction, substantially as shown in the drawings hereto' annexed. The upper rear ends ofthe said brackets are connected by a transverse beam. l. the central portion of which is connected by diagonal braces L with the upper frontcorners oi' the said frames or brackets M is a metallic truss, the sides of which are connected to the ends of the transverse beam K, whence they extend downwardly, and are connected or securely attached to the under side of the rear end 'of the binder-platform. The apex of the truss M is secured to the rear end of a longitudinal brace or Stringer beam, N, the front end of which is connected to the rear end of the tongue E by means oi' a suitable hinge, O.

Mounted pivotally upon the axle I of the drive-wheel is a bii'urcated metallic bracket, l), the upper end of which supports the apex ot' a truss, Q, the front and rear ends of which are connected, respectively, to the side of the tongue E and to the apex of the truss M. The front part of the said truss Q is madein two parts or sections, which are connected by a strong spring, R, which admits of an elastic or yielding motion taking place when the machine is passing over obstructions. A supplemental truss, S, the'apex of which isse- IOC ' latter.

cured to one side of the bracket P, has its l'ront and rear ends att-ached, respectively, to the side of the tongue and to the front end of the binder-platform.

ltwill be seen that, by the construction and arrangement of Vparts thus far described, the trame oi' the machine is practically balanced upon the drive-wheel H, the rear end of the binder-platform being supported by the trusses Q and M, and the beam or Stringer N serving to prevent the truss M from heilig pulled ina forward direction" by the action of the truss Q. rlhe outer end of the reapertablc is provided willi the ordinary grain-wheel,'l`. By this convst ruction and arrangement of parts a lightand durable frame is secured,which is well balanced upon its supports and which presents no obv slructions to the proper location of the operative parts ot' the machinery, which will he presently hereinafter described.

The bimlerplatform is provided at its front end with bearings for a transverse shal't, U, arranged to slide laterally in its bearings,and encircled for a portion of its length by a tubular shaft', Y, which is journaled permanently in its bearings W' W. The tubular shaft V is provided at one end with a pinion, X, having a clutch, Y, adapted to engage a clutelrcollar, Z, upon the sliding` shaft U. A rotary motion is transmitted to the latter by means of a chain, A', ruiming` over a chain-wheel, B', mounted upon the said shaft, and over a sprocketwheel,

tl', secured upon the outer side ot' the drivewheel Il by means of clips D'. rlhe pinion X of the shaitV engages a bevel-gear, 11),mounted upon a vert-ical shaft, F', arranged in suitable bearings at the front end ot' the binderplatform. Shaft F' also carries a spur-wheel, tl", meshing with a spurwheel, H', upon a vertical shaft, l', arranged in rear of the said shaft F', and having at its lower end a chainwheel,J',connected by aehain, K',with achainwheel, L', mounted upon a vertical shaft, M', in the binder-platform, near the rear end of the It will be seen that the chain K', with its driving wheels,is arranged upon the under side ofthe binder-platlbrm. The latter is provided with twolongitudinal parallelslots,h"N', affording bearings for the longitudinally-sliding grain carriersO' O', consisting of H- shaped cross-heads P' P', arranged to slide longitudinally in the slots N', and having their upper ends connected by a cross piece, Q'. rlhe cross-heads P' are provided with uprights R', supported by inclined braces S', and the cross-piece Q' is provided with a rearwardlyextendingtracker, T', carrying a vertical gatherer, U', t ie upper end of which is provided with arearwardlyextending inclined arm,V', and which serves to gather the grain upon the binder-platform into a compact mass, which may be readily moved by the carriers O' to the bunching mechanism,which will be hereinafter described.

The rear edge of the cross-piece Q', connecting the carrier-slides, is'provided with a notch,

XV', to admit of thepassage of the needle and thread guide, as will be hereinafter described.

The under sides of the cross-heads P' are provided at their front and rear ends with downwardly-extending lugs X', in which are secured a pair of longitudinal bolts, Y', connected at their front ends by a transverse brace, Z', arranged to slide longitudinally upon the said bolts. A2 A2 are springs coiled upon the said bolts in rear of the cross piece or brace 7". The latter is connected by a pivoted rod, B2, with the drivechain K', to which reference hashereinbefore been made, the said connectingrod B2 being so arranged as to clear the said drive-chain andthe chaiirwheels over which it runs. It will thus be seen that when the drive-chain is operated a longitudinallyreciprocating mot-ion is imparted to the graincarriers, which, by the construction described, are capable of moving longitudinally with relation to the cross-piece Q, by means ot' which they are connected with the drive-chain, so that they will yield when necessary, thus en abling greater or smaller quantities of grain to be carried to the buncliing mechanism by the action of the said carriers.

The vertical shaft M' carries above the chai nwheel L' a pinion, C2, meshing with a spurwheel, D2, upon a vertical shalt, E2, ]'ournaled in rear of the shaft M'. Said shaft E2 is also provided with a chain-wheel, F2, over which runs a chain, G2, passing over a pair of vertical guide-pulleys, H2, journaled in a bracket, 12, secured to the outer side ofthe rear end of the binder-platform, and over a chain-wheel, J2, upon the end of'a shaft, Y2, which is ljournaled in boxes or bearings at the upper front corners of the frames or brackets J J, at the rear end of the bimler-platt'orm. To the shaft K2, which I denominate the knotter-shaft, a rotary motion may thus be imparted from thc drive-chain K' when the latter is driven to operate the grain-carriers, as hereinbefore described.

Journaled in suitable .bearings near the rear end of the binder-platform are a pair of transverse shafts, L2 and M2, provided at one end with toothed segments N2, so that when operated the said shafts shall rock or oscillate in opposite directions. equipped with suitably-constructed curved arms O2, serving,when the shafts are operated, to compress the grain bundle or gave] and to hold it in position while it is being operated upon by the binding mechanism. 'llie'forward one of the said shafts L2 also carries the needle P2, which is hinged or pivot-ed to an arm, Q2, extending radially from the said shaft, thus peri'nitting the needle-to assume a posit-ion atnearly right angles to said arm, so that its point will readily enter the binding mechanism. The outer end of the shaft L2 has an arm or lever, R2, which is connected with the heel of the needle by means of a cord, S2, passing through suitable eyes or guides,

The said rock-shafts are i T2, and provided with a spring, U2, the functions of said cord being to keep the needle P2 from doubling back upon the arm Q2 after the sheaf has been bound and the arm Q2 is turned down into its horizontal position. It may, however, be here stated that in the needle and the knot tying or binding mechanism proper no particular novelty is herein claimed, and l reserve the privilege of using any devices for these purposes which may be successfully operated in conjunction with the remainder of my invention. In the drawings, therefore, I have shown no parts of the binding mechanism, with the exception of the needle.

The bearings \V of the shaft U,at the front end of the binder-platform,are provided with upwardlyextending brackets V2, to which are secured a pair of rearwardly-extending horizontal beams, W2, the rear ends of which are connected by a rearwardly-extending metallic plate, X2, having a slot, Y2, and the rear end of which is bolted or otherwise secured to the transverse beam K,supported upon the brackets J at the rear end of the platform. The beams V" are connected by crosspieces extending laterally,so as to form brackets Z2, to which is secured au inclined guide, A2, serving to guide the grain in under the beams W2 when the machine is in operation.

rlhe knetter-shaft K, in addition to its bearings in the brackets J, is provided with bearings in a pair of lugs, B"s B2, extending upwardly from the plate X2, and on either side of the latter the said shaft is provided with a pair of radial rods, C, serving to kick or eject the sheaf off the binder-platibrm after it has been bound. Pivoted to the plate X2, and extending laterally from the same, is a latch, D3, having an inclined or beveled edge or end, and connected by a cord, E3, with a suitablyarranged spring, F", by which it is forced in a forward direction until it engages a lug or stud, G, upon the said plate X2. The particlular function of this latch will be presently more fully set forth.

One of the guidebeams \V2is provided with bearings for a longitudinallysliding rod, H, the front end of which is provided with adownwaidly-exteiuling pivoted arm, I3, around the pivoting piu of which is coiled a suitable spring, J, engaging the said arm, and serving to hold or retain it in an approximately vertical position, while at the same time permitting it to move or swing in either a forward or a rearward direction by the application of proper force or pressure. This pressure is furnished by one of the grain carriers O', which, when it strikes the arm I, will move the rod Hs in a rearward direction until the said arm reaches one of the guide-eyes K, when the said arm will yield and admit of the passage of the carrier O', which latter after traveling tothe rear end ot' the binder-platform, and assisting in forming the gavel will, on its return, again strike the arm I3, and serve to return the rod H3 to its normal position, when the arm I3 will again yield and permit the carrier O to pass under it to the front end of the binder-platform. rlhe rear end of the rod H3 is connected pivotally with one end or arm of a bell-crank lever, L3, which is pvoted to the transverse brace or beam K, and the other arm of which has a downwardly-extending arm, M, the lower end of which is bifurcated at N", and serves as aguide for the binding-cord O3. The latter,which passes from a spool-case, P, at the front end of the binderplatform, and after running through suitable guides through the eye of the needle,is by the action of the bifurcated arm M3 normally held down fiat upon the binder-platform, while, when the carriers O' move rearwardly for the purpose of gathering the grain and forming the bundle, the said arm is raised by the mechanism described, thus enabling the grain to pass under it, and be properly encircled by the bindingcord.

The transverse shaft L2, the compressingarms of which, O2, normally rest in the longitudinal slots N of the binder-platform, is provided with a downwardly extending radial arm, Q2, connected by a tension-spring, R3, with the rear end of the platform, said spring serving to keep the arms O2 normally in alowered position. Connected to the arm Q3 is a forwardlyextending link or rod, S3, havinga slot, T3, through which passes a stud, U3, of a lever, V, which is pivoted under the binderplatform, and one end or arm of which ex tends under one of the slots N, so as to be actuated by the carrierslides when the latter move rearwardly upon the platform. The rearward movement of the said carriers will thus serve to actuate the rock-shafts L2 and M2, and cause the arms O2 of said shafts to rise and compress the bundle and hold it in position until 'it has been bound by such mechanism as it may be deemed desirable to employ.

Journaled upon the shaft U, but secured to move longitudinally therewith, at the front end of the binder-platform, is a boX,VV2,which is connected pivotally with a lever, X3,which is pivoted to au upright, YB. One end of the lever X is connected by a pivoted rod, Z3, with the lower end or arm of a vertical lever, A4, pi voted between suitable u pri ghts or supports, B4, near the inner edge of the binder-platform.

C4 designates the rake, the arms of which, D*, as they move over the binder-platform in the act ofsweeping the grain off the harvestertable onto the said platform, will strike the lever Ai thus sliding the shaft U inward in its bearings, throwing the clutches Y and Z into gear and starting the binder mechanism. In this' position the shaft 'U is retained by the action of a spring-actuated arm, E4, mounted or formed upon the end of a short shaft, F, which is journaled upon the binder-platform, and the other end of which is provided with a short arm, G*, adapted to engagea stud, H,

extending laterally from one of the carrierslides or crossheads P. The carrier-slides,

by the action of the mechanism which is thrown into gear by the `lever A*, are moved to the rear end of the binder platform and back, when, on their return, the stud II* will strike the arm G", thus throwing the arm F* out of engagement with the lever X3, when the shaft U will be moved in an outward direction by the action of a suitably-arranged spring, 1*, thereby throwing the clutchesY Zout of gear and stopping the binding mechanism until it shall be thrown into gear again by one of the rake arms coming into contact with the lcvcr Ai.

J* is a grain-guide arranged in an inclined position upon the innersideofthc binderplatform and serving to guide the grain to its proper position when it is being swept by the rake from the liarvesterltable onto the binderplatform; and'l* is a butt-board pivoted to the opposite side of the platform and having a rod, L*, leading to the drivers seat, and by means of which it may be adjusted so as to cause grain of different lengths to be placed evenly upon the middle of the platform.

Hinged upon the rear end of the binderplatform, directly above the transverse shaft L2, is a board, M*, which is normally held in an upright or vertical position by the action of a suitablyarranged spring, N*. The upper edge of the said board is provided with one or more notches, 0*, adapted when the said board is lowered to acconnnodatc the compressor arm or arms OL of the shaft M2. \Vhen the grain is pushed in a rearward direction uponI the binder-platform by the carriers O, the said board M* will yield and the bundle of grain will rest on top thereof while being compressed by the arms O2, As soon as the bundle has been tied and is ejected from the platform by the arms Cup n the knottershaftKZ, the board M* will rise and assume its normal vertical position, in which it will serve to arrest the rearward movement of the grain upon the platform until the arms O2 again rise for lthe purpose of forming, compressing, and holding another bundle.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

The cutting mechanism of the harvester, which is not shown in the drawings, is of ordinary construction,and motion is transmitted from it to the rake, the arms of which serve to throw the binding mechanism into gear by coming into contact with the lever A*, as described. As soon as the clutches Y Z are thrown into gear, the chain K will start, thus causing the carriers O' to travel in a rearward direction upon the binder-platform in the slots N of the latter. The grain which has been swept onto the binder-platform by the rakearm which has started the binding,r mechanism is thus forced toward the tail end of the platform and onto the board M*, which is lowered by the pressure of the grain. In the meantime a rotary motion has been communicated to the shaft KF, which revolves slowly in the direction indicated by an arrow, throwing the stripper-arms 0'* in an outward or rearward direction. When the carrier-slide comes in contact with the lever V, the rock-shafts L and M2 are oscillated in their bearings, thus compressing the bundle between the arms O'2 O2. One of the arms O2 of the shaft L? will pass and engage the beveled latch D, which latter, being retained by the stud or stop G", will serve to retain the arms Oiin a raised position, compressing the bundle, and thereby take all the strain off the carriers O and off the mechanism by which the said carriers are operated, thus throwing all the available power off the carrier and, through the intermediate connecting mechanism, onto the knotter-shaft K2, which actuates mechanism for tying the bundle, which mechanism, being no part of my present invention, has not been shown in the drawings. The carriers O' in the meantime have commenced their travel in a 'forward direction upon the platform, and the shaft KQcontinuesits revolving motion until one of the ejector-arms (l3 comes into contact with the latch D3, between the outer end against which the arm O'l is bearing and the edge of the plate X2, and presses the latch and arm 0'* back until it thereby releases the arln O2, thus permitting the shafts L2 M2, actuated by the spring R3, to return to their normal position. rlhe ejcctors Gi" now shove the shcaf off the binder-platform, thus pern'iitting the board M* to rise to its normal position; and thc carriers O', on reaching the front end of the binder-platform, will disengage the arm F* from the lever X3, thus throwing the binding mechanism out of gear and suffering it to so remain until it is again thrown into action by one of the rake-arms.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byliettcrs Patent of the United States* l. In a grain-binder, `the combination of the binder-platform secured to the side of the grain-platform, suitable brackets or frames at the rear end of the same, a transverse beam connecting the upper rear corners of the said brackets or frames, a truss connected to the ends of the said beam and having its ends connected to the under side ofthe rear end of the platform, and a downwardly and forwardly extending beam or Stringer connecting the apex of the said truss with the rear end of the tongue, said Stringer being directly over and extending lengthwise of the binder-platform, substantially as herein described, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a grain-binder, the combination of the binder-platform, a bracket extending forwardly from the same, the tongue secured upon the said bracket, a brace connecting the side ofthe tongue with the front end of ythe platform, an axle mounted in said bracket lOl IIS

ISO

and brace, a drive-wheel mounted upon the said axle, and a balance-weight secured upon the frontend of the tongue, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth. 3. In a grain-binder, the combination of the binder-platform, the tongue secured to the front end of the same, substantially as described, and having a balance-Weight, an axle mounted transversely in a bracket and a brace connecting the tongue to the platform,a drivewheel mounted upon the said axle, a yoke or upright mounted pivotally upon the said axle, a transverse truss at the rear end of the binderplatform, a longitudinal truss connecting the apex of said transverse truss with the tongue and resting at its apex upon the yoke or upright pivoted upon the axle of the drivewheel, and a longitudinal beam or stringer connnecting the rear end ofthe tongue with the apex of t-he rear transverse truss, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a grain-binder, the combination ofthe binder-platform, the transverse truss at the rear end of the same,the tongue secured at the frontend of the said platform, and a longitudinal beam or stringer hinged to the rear end of the tongue and engaging with the apex of the rear transverse truss, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

5. The combination of the binder-platform, the transverse truss at the rear end of the same the tongue secured at the front end of the said platform, the drive-wheel, the yoke or upright pivoted upon the axle of the same, the longitudinal stringer-beam, and the longitudinal truss having an interposed spring, all arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The eombination'ofthe binderplatform, the tongue secured at the front end of the same, the drive-wheel axle, a yoke or upright mounted pivotally upon the latter, and a brace secured to one side of said yoke or upright and connected at its ends to the side of the tongue and to the -front end of the binderplatform, respectively, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

7. The combination of the longitudinallyslotted binder-platform, the grain-carriers arranged to slide in said slots and having crossheads, the under sides of which are provided with downwardly-extending lugs at their front and rear ends, longitudinal bolts arranged in the said lugs, a cross-piece or brace arranged 55 to slide upon said bolts, coiled springs arranged to force the said cross-piece in a forward direction, and a pivoted rod connecting the said cross piece with a drive-chain arranged to run over horizontal chain-wheels 6o journaled under the binder-platform near the front and rear ends of the latter, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

8. In a grain-binder, the combination of the longitudinally-slotted platform, a horizontal drive-chain arranged longitudinally under the binder-platform, and the longitudinally sliding or reciprocating grain-carriers connected to and operated bythe said drive-chain and capable of having a longitudinal motion independent of their connection with the said 7o chain, substantially as herein described, forthe purpose set forth.

9. In a grain-binder, the combination of the platform, frames or brackets at the rear corners of the same, a transverse beam connecting the upper rear corners of the said brackets, uprights at the frontend of the said platform, a pair of longitudinal beams secured to l the said uprights, a plate connecting the rear ends of the said beams with the transverse 8o beam at the rear end of the platform, and brackets extending laterally from the said longitudinal beams and supporting an inclined guide, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination of the binder-platform, frames or brackets at the rear corners of the same, a transverse beam connecting the rear corners of the said brackets, the longitudinal beams supported above the binder- 9o platform, a longitudinally-slidi ng rod attached to 011e of the said longitudinal beams and having its rear end connected pivotally with a cord-guide pivotedto the rear transverse beam, a pivoted downwardly-extending arm attached to the front end of the said longitudinally-sliding rod, a spring arranged to hold the said arm in position, and the longitudinal] y reciprocating grain carriers arranged to actnate the sliding rod by contact roo with the downwardly-extending arm of t-he latter, substantially as and for the purpose herein' set forth.

1l. The binding-cord guide consisting of a bent lever pivoted to a transverse beam at fc5 the rear end of the binder-platform and having an arm bifurcated at its lower end, in combination with the longitudinally-sliding operating-rod having a downwardly-extending pivoted arm, a spring arranged to hold iro the said arm in place, and the longitudinallyreciprocating graincarriers, said arm having au independent longitudinal motion with relation to the drive-chain with which said carriers are connected and by which they are operated, substantially as herein shown and described.

12. In a grain-binder, the combination of the parallel rock-shafts having toothed segments engaging each other and provided with 12o curved compressor-arms, a radial arm extending downwardly from one of the said shafts,

a tension-spring connecting said arm with the rear end of the under side of the platform, a lever pivoted to the under side of the platform r 2 5 and having an arln extending under one of a series of longitudinal slots in the same, a link connecting the other end of said lever with the arln extending downwardly from the conipressor rock-shaft, and the longitudinally re- 13o ciprocating grain-carriers adapted to engage the said lever and thereby actuate the compressorshafts, substantially as herein dcscribed, for the purpose set forth.

13. The combination of the binder-platform, a transverse beam supported above the rear end of the latter, a pair of longitudinal beams supported above the platform, a plate connecting the rear ends of said longitudinal beams with the transverse beam, a springactuated beveled latch extending from the side of said plate, a stud arranged to limit the forward movement of said latch, the transverse rock-shafts having compressor-arms, one of which is adapted to engage and be retained by the said latch, and suitable operating mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

14. The combination of the transverse roekshafts having toothed segments engaging each other and provided with radially-extending eou'ipressor-arms, a spring-actuated latch arranged to be engaged by one of the compressor-arms and thereby retain the seve 1al arms in a raised or operative position, the revolving knotter-shaft having radially-extending ejector-arms, one of which is adapted to engage the latch and thereby to release the compressonarms, and suitable operating mechanism, substantially as herein described, for the purpose set forth.

15. The combination of the longitudinallyslotted platform, the longitudinally-reeiproeating grain-carriers, the drive-chain con nected with and adapted to operate the said carriers, the transverse rock-shafts having the radially extending compressor arms, and adapted to be operated bythe longitudinallyreciprocating carriers, the revolving knottershaft, mech anism connecting said knotter-shaft with the drive-chain of the grain-carriers, whereby it is operated, mechanism for retaining the compressor-arms when lifted in their raised or operative position, so that the whole power of the drivecbain shall be transmitted to the knottershaft,and mechanism for releasing the compressor-arms automatically when the bundle has been tied, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

16. The combination of the transverse paralll rock-shafts having the compressor-arms, the needle hinged or pivoted to an varm extending radially from one of the said shafts, a radially-extending arm at the outer end of the said shaft, and a cord connecting the said arm with the heel of the needle, said cord passing through suitable eyes or guides and being provided with an interposed spring,substantially as and 'for the purpose herein set forth.

the drive-chain arranged to operate the longitudinally-reciprocating grain-carriers and the binding mechanism, meehanismconnectingone ofthe shafts of said drive-chain with a pinion mounted on one end of atubular shaft and hav- `ing a elutch,a shaft arranged to slide within the said tubular shaft and having a clutch adapted to engage the clutch-pinion of thelatter,.a box journaled on one end of said sliding shaft, a lever pivoted to an upright and connected pivotally with the said boina suitably-arranged vertical lever, a rod connecting the lower end of the latter with thehorizontal lever, the harvester-rake having arms adapted to strike or engage the upper arm of said vertical lever, and a chain connecting a chain-wheel upon the sliding shaft with a chainwheel upon the drive-wheel of the binder, whereby the operating mechanism of the binder shallbe thrown into gear by contact of one of the rake-arms with the upper end ofthe upright lever, substantially as set fort-h.

19. The combination of a transversely-sliding shaft connected with the drive-wheel ofthe binder and having aclutch through which motion may be transmit-ted to the operating mechanism of the binder, a lever suitably connected with the said shaft and adapted to throw it into gear by contact with one of the arms of the harvester-rake,a spring arranged to throw the said shaft out of gear automatically,a catch arranged to engage a lever connected with said shaft and retain it in or out of gear, and the longitudinally reciprocating grain carriers adapted to actu ate the said cat-ch,substantially as herein described ,for the purpose shown and specified. K

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES MILLER.

W i t nesses:

llorriv (l. WitsoN, v G'ERRN LoUeHn'oRoUGH.

IOO 

